Letizia Cau, a master’s student in the International Business program, has been awarded the 2026 DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements by international students at German universities. With this award, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) honors international students who have distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievements as well as social and intercultural engagement.
The award, which comes with a prize of 1,000 euros, honors an educational journey characterized by international openness, initiative, and social responsibility. Born in Italy, she came to Germany after working as an au pair, learned German, and initially completed a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. She then began a master’s program in International Business, which she is currently completing.
“Letizia Cau is one of those students who not only complete a degree program but also shape it,” said the program director, Prof. Dr. Daniel Porath. “In addition to her academic achievements, she has consistently contributed—not only through constructive feedback but also through her willingness to take on responsibility and her initiative. In this way, she embodies in a special way what this award stands for.”
International experiences have shaped her life since she was young. While still in high school, she spent a school year in India as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and was honored there as the “Italian Ambassador in India.” Later, she gained further experience in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Brazil. For her semester abroad at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, she organized her study abroad experience independently and received a PROMOS scholarship from the DAAD for this purpose. There, she studied in Portuguese and achieved excellent academic results.
In addition to her academic achievements, Letizia Cau is continuously involved in social causes. During her stay in Brazil, she supported social and environmental projects as a volunteer with the Centro de Voluntariado Universitário. In addition, she has been involved in Germany and Italy in initiatives to support homeless people, as well as in work with Caritas. She is also actively involved at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, for example as a student representative in the reaccreditation process for the International Business program.
Her professional interests focus particularly on sustainability, social impact, and responsible business practices. This profile is reflected both in her specialization during her master’s program and in her commitment to sustainability projects. She also possesses strong analytical skills: She worked as a math tutor during her bachelor’s program, and since March 2026, she has served as an assistant to the Quantitative Methods department at Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
With language skills in Italian, German, English, and Portuguese, as well as experience across multiple continents, Letizia Cau embodies the international character of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. The 2026 DAAD Award honors a student who combines academic achievement with intercultural competence and social engagement.
